Panoramic exploration of cans and canning in the United States, with excellent imagery of mass production and agribusiness.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Caravel Films, Inc.
Sponsor: American Can Company
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Agriculture: Food industry; Agriculture: Farms and farming; Agriculture: Food industry: Canning

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Spuzz - - November 10, 2003
Subject: The Film is in the can!
If you've ever wondered why there hasnt been an overflow of Can documentaries, well, look no further. 'Miracle Of The Can' pretty much is the beginning, middle and end of the can. For 40 minutes (!!) we see the birth and the progress of the can in terms of production. If this all sounds pretty boring to you, well, you're sort of right. This film could EASILY be trimmed in half.As a matter of fact, when you've finished the first half, you feel that they've summed it up nicely, then you realize you've got 20 minutes more to go! Only worth seeing for the bizarre shot of cans growing on trees, other than that, strictly for can fetishists only (you know who you are)

Reviewer: cashel - - October 7, 2003
Subject: basics
The two parts of this 40 minute b/w film form a documentary on the history, manufacture and marketing of CANS..Clear explanations nd excellent photography

Shotlist

Shows history of can making in the U.S. Excellent footage of mass production and discussion of the growth of agribusiness.
Stock shots: soldiers eating canned rations; toddler eating baby food; kitchen; can opening; man being awoken by a phone call at 2 AM; dumping coffee beans into giant grinder; pebble dropped in pool.
Native Americans doing what is supposed to be a harvest dance. CU of Indian drum.
Historical recreation of Pilgrims at Thanksgiving.
Surprise shots: fruit on the vine dissolves into an aluminum can on the vine. Cornucopia of produce dissolves into cornucopia of cans.
Voiceovers:
"All growing things are provided with a protective covering; it occurred to man if he could provide a permanent protective covering for the bounty of nature he could then readily extend the harvest season until every day of the year became a day of plenty."
Growth of agribusiness: "Farmers began to plant more and more acres; improve their yields; lifted their farm incomes to higher level; adding purchasing power that gladdened the hearts of entire families. A new agricultural era was in the making all through the growing demand for canned foods."
Handpacking and hand soldering cans. [recreation]
"All this [growth in agricultural, meat and fish production] because the can making industry had faced and met nature's challenge, here is my limitless bounty for the taking, protect it well."
"Just as harvest time means more than the ending of one bountiful season, it contains within itself the seeds of another more fruitful spring. So this humblest little servant of your daily life, contains not just a product but symbolizes a more abundant life for all freedom-loving people everywhere in the world. This is the miracle of the can."


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